Ran (乱)

The arrow which felled the boar...

...belonged to Lord lchimonji.

Drink to him!

The wily old beast

shot out right in front of me.

My horse reared before I could aim, off I fell.

Father,

shall we roast the boar?

He was old.

His hide is tough; it stinks.

Indigestible.

Like me, old Hidetora.

Would you eat me?

You'd stick in our throats.

That's why I joined your hunt,

to reinforce our friendship.

I, too!

I would cement the bonds

between the houses of lchimonji and Ayabe,

I would marry my daughter

to your son Saburo.

Hold on!

That's my own invention.

Lord lchimonji, the day is propitious.

Give us your answer.

Whom will you have for Saburo,

my daughter or Lord Ayabe's?

Not an easy choice.

Two daughters

for one son.

A pity Jiro, my second son, already has a wife.

Kvoami!

Entertain us!

From the far mountain

From the near mountain

Who comes hippety-hopping

Showing off his handsome ears?

A hare!

Only one hare, Kyoami?

Two, I think.

Hopping here, to be eaten by Father.

Saburo, that's rude!

Hold your tongue!

The Great Lord is tired.

Let us withdraw until he wakes.

This is unlike Father. He only pretends to sleep.

After Saburo's insult, how else could he save face?

All he did was hunt.

In the old clays,

he'd rout an army and not be winded.

It's impolite to our guests.

Kyoami, wake him!

Father worries me,

he's barely snoring today.

Father, what is it?

Are you ill?

A dream...

I had a dream.

I was in a strange land.

A vast wilderness.

I went on and on, but met no one.

I called, I shouted,

but no one answered.

I was alone.

Alone in the wide world.

I felt a chill...

Such stupidity!

Tara's voice pulled me back.

I saw my beloved children.

Taro,

mo,

Saburo.

Father, I've never seen you like this.

It's not right.

Quiet, Saburo!

Be thankful we have his affection.

I'm puzzled, too.

I can scarcely believe my ears.

Normally, all he asks is our obedience.

That's affection enough.

All right.

I've been considering an idea,

and I've reached a decision.

I want to tell it to you.

Now is a good time to do it

while we have with us

Lords Fujimaki and Ayabe.

Bring them!

I, Hidetora lchimonji,

was born in that small castle in the mountains.

At that time, the entire plain

seethed with constant battle.

Many lords vied for power.

At the age of seventeen,

I flew my banner over that castle.

I waged wars for fifty years,

and at last the plain was mine.

I hoisted my colours over the main castle.

I spent more years

fighting lance to lance with these two gentlemen.

Now, the moment has come

to stable the steeds of war

and give free rein to peace.

But old Hidetora

is seventy years old.

I hereby cede total authority

over all my dominions

to my eldest son Taro.

My lord, this is so sudden...

Not at all.

I've thought long and hard.

There comes a time

to step aside,

and pass on the reins to younger hands.

I say to you: that time is now!

This is my will.

Taro is now head of the lchimonjis,

lord of this lands.

I will quit the castle keep

and move to the outer tower.

I will retain a 30-man escort

and give the title and insignia of Great Lord.

But the actual leadership

lies entirely with Taro.

I expect all of you to obey!

I'll obey.

But what about me and Saburo?

What do you intend for us?

I give you, Jiro and Saburo,

the Second and Third castles

with their attendant lands.

You will support Taro

in the First Castle.

I shall be your guest

visiting each castle in turn,

living out my remaining years.

How hard it is to be old!

I would speak.

I respect your wishes

and appreciate your trust,

but I beg you to reconsider.

Why?

Though I am your eldest son,

I could never take your place.

It is too great a task.

I always pray to the God of War.

"Let his life last 100 years,

"even if it means shaving a bit off mine."

What a pretty speech.

I cannot use such honeyed words.

I'd be embarrassed.

Don't be spiteful!

You mean Taro only flatters me?

Pay no attention to Saburo.

I feel the same as Taro.

We'd like nothing better than to stay behind your shield.

But it's our turn to shield you

from life's bitter arrow.

Well said, Jiro.

Bring me that quiver!

Break an arrow in two.

Can you do it?

Bundle them

and try again.

A single arrow is easily broken.

Not so three together.

Whenever Taro is in trouble,

if you unite your forces,

the house of lchimonji will be safe.

Even in a sheaf, three arrows can be broken.

More of your pranks.

Stop being foolish.

It's you who are foolish. Your plan is absurd.

You are either senile or mad.

Silence!

Do not insult your father!

What madness have I spoken?

Wherein lies my senility?

I'll tell you.

What kind of world do we live in?

One barren of loyalty and feeling.

- I'm aware of that. - So you should be!

You spilled measureless blood.

You showed no mercy, no pity.

We too are children of this age, weaned on strife and chaos.

We are your sons, yet you count on our fidelity.

In my eyes, that makes you a fool.

A senile old fool!

So that's it!

You mean one day, you'll forget I'm your father.

You'll betray me.

More folly!

Does a traitor betray himself?

Then you mean your brothers?

He's jealous of Taro's position.

Is that why you slander me?

Brother or not, watch your step!

Your lesson of the three arrows was wasted.

The unity of the three sons is split.

You scorn your father's wishes?